George Hirst
George Herbert Hirst
Born: 7 September 1871, Kirkheaton, Yorkshire
Died: 10 May 1954, Lindley, Huddersfield, Yorkshire
Major Teams: Yorkshire, Europeans (India), England.
Known As: George Hirst
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Left Arm Medium Fast
Test Debut: England v Australia at Sydney, 1st Test, 1897/98
Last Test: England v Australia at Manchester, 4th Test, 1909
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1901
Career Statistics:
TESTS
(career)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 24 38 3 790 85 22.57 0 5 18 0
Balls M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 4010 146 1770 59 30.00 5-48 3 0 67.9 2.64
FIRST-CLASS
(career: 1891 - 1929)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 826 1217 152 36356 341 34.13 60 201 604 0
R W Ave BBI 5 10
Bowling 51371 2742 18.73 9-23 184 40
- Explanations of First-Class and List A status courtesy of the ACS.
StatsGuru Filters for George Hirst
Profile:
A man who described himself as a county cricketer was in fact one of the
greatest of county cricketers, and not a bad Test player either. The only
man to take 200 wickets and score 2,000 runs in an English season, George
Hirst was a magnificent all-rounder, and is credited with introducing swing
bowling to the top level of cricket. Prior to Hirst, bowlers would often
rough up the surface of the new ball to get a better grip. Hirst learned how
to control the swing of the new ball, dismissing batsmen with deliveries
described as almost like fast returns from cover. His batting was somewhat
unorthodox - he received little formal coaching - and relied on his superb
eye, and quick footwork. He loved to hook and pull, and was capable of
playing the pull shot to a ball of almost any length short of a yorker. He
bowled slightly faster than medium pace, off a long run, and he swung the
ball into the right hander very late. He was also adept at using the seam,
and was an excellent fielder, a superb catcher on the off side.
Like his friend and bowling partner Wilfred Rhodes, Hirst was born in
Kirkheaton, and first played for Yorkshire at the age of 19. He established
himself in the team in 1896, when he performed the first of his 14
"doubles". He made in all 60 first-class centuries and helped himself to a
Yorkshire record 341 against Leicestershire in 1905. Hirst and Rhodes
combined to bowl out Australia for just 36 in the 1st Test of 1902, the
opening salvoes of a famous series that was to end with the two
Yorkshiremen's last wicket stand to win the Ashes at the Oval. Hirst never
made a Test century but his 58* as England
chased 263 to win was worth more than many centuries, and his instruction to
Rhodes as he joined him "we'll get 'em in singles, Wilfred" has become part
of cricketing lore and legend. He toured Australia twice, with only modest
success, and by and large his performances for England fell below the high
standard of his county career.
Hirst made his last Test appearance in 1909, but appeared for Yorkshire for
another 20 years, as well as coaching Eton for 18 years (starting in 1921).
He was made an honorary life member of the MCC in 1948, and was often seen
guiding his friend Rhodes (now blind) at Lord's. Wisden's obituary said of
him: "Certainly this blunt, outspoken man of extreme buoyancy and
cheerfulness brought such a tenacity to the game that no match in which he
figured was won or lost until the last ball was bowled" (DL 2000).
Last Updated: Monday, 29-Jul-2002 10:55:10 GMT
|
|  |